716 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
other is dated the 18lh August 1943. The notification dated the
24th November 1943, is merely a continuation of the notifications to which I have already referred and which are dated August
- There has been a Session of the Legislature after the August notifications were issued.
Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : What was the notification ? Permitting women to work underground ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : Yes. I would also like to say that I do not wish to take my stand on these formal objections to the motion, and if the House desires to have this matter discussed I am prepared to give in.
Mr. N. M. Joshi (Nominated Non-Official): May I say a word on this point ? Although the Government of India may have issued their notifications before the last Session of the Assembly, actual effect was given to them in the most important coal mining areas only recently. I therefore feel that the subject is of importance and of recent occurrence.
Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : The notifications of August did not refer to Jharia and other neighbouring areas ?
Mr. N. M. Joshi : No.
Mr. President (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : Were these areas excluded from the notifications?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No. We have proceeded stage by stage. The first intention of the Government of India to lift this prohibition was dated the 2nd August 1943. That applied to C. P. and Berar mines.
Mrs. Renuka Ray (Nominated Non-Official): May I point out that the notifications of the 2nd and 18th August 1943 were protested against, but Government took no notice of the protests. In any case I have only brought up Jharia and other neighbouring areas and notifications relating to them came out after the last Session of the legislature.
Mr. President- (The Honourable Sir Abdur Rahim) : That being so and as the Honourable Member in charge has no objection to the motion being discussed, the motion will be taken up at 4 o’clock.